1,000 pouches of liquor seized
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, May 24 — The local police has arrested two persons for smuggling 1,000 pouches of illicit liquor to Shimla. The duo was trapped by the police after laying an ambush on the Zirakpur-Panchkula road near Dhakoli chowk, here today.

In a press note, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Harcharan Singh Bhullar, said that the suspects, Naresh Kumar and Santokh Singh, were caught by Mr Tajender Singh, SHO, along with his team. The accused were carrying the liquor in a Maruti van (HR-37-0573). A case under the Excise Act has been registered against them. "The suspects have disclosed that they had been smuggling liquor to Shimla for the past six months," said Mr Bhullar.

CHANDIGARH

Car stolen: A car (DL-7C-1582) owned by Mr S. Lakhanpal of Sector 46 has been stolen from his residence.

Truck-bus collision: A truck and a bus collided near Hallo Majra village on the Chandigarh-Ambala road. Though no one was injured, Daler Singh, driver of the truck, was arrested.

Fake certificate: The Punjab Police Housing Corporation (PPHC) has clarified that the constable mentioned in the news item "constable booked for forgery" is actually a driver with the PPHC and not a cop. He is a civilian employee.

The driver had produced a fake certificate of having passed the Punjab Parbodh Examination of matric standard purportedly issued by the Director of the Language Department of Punjab and not a fake matriculation certificate, the PPHC said.

Also, the case was registered on a complaint lodged by the Administrative Officer on behalf of the PPHC Managing Director, Mr P. Lal, in his official capacity.

PANCHKULA

Cycle thief caught: The local police has arrested Rajiv Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, for being allegedly involved in two separate cases of thefts of rickshaws. Besides, at least ten stolen bicycles have been recovered from him.

Injured: Mr Naresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 10 complained to the police that his father, Mr Bhawan Dutt, who was driving a scooter received injuries after being hit by an unidentified vehicle. The police has registered a case under Sections 279 and 338 of the IPC.

Interface on population education
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 24 — A one-day interface of convenors and university teachers was held at the Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Punjab University, to launch the third phase of a sponsored project on population education, here today.

Prof Geeta Kataria, Consultant and Co-ordinator of the project, suggested that integrated population education programmes be taken up for achieving quality of life and cultural change. She added that university teachers and students could play a vital role by organising population education clubs and conducting activities at the grass-root level.

Prof Poonam Dhawan, Director of Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Jammu University, said population education was a national issue. She added that the project was meant for capacity building of teachers, students and the community to empower them to take independent and rational decisions and make choices.

Dr Ajaib Singh, Director of Department of Adult and Continuing Education, said teachers in universities and colleges should provide leadership to students to make them socially-acceptable students.

As many as 25 academicians from Jammu, Delhi and Punjab Universities participated in the programme. Dr V.K. Bansal of the Department of Laws, Prof G.S. Ghuman of the Department of Public Administration, Prof Ravi Gosal of the Department of Geography and Prof T. Kohli of the Department of Education were also present. They offered their support to various activities of the programme.

Meeting: The northern regional office of the University Grants Commission, Ghaziabad, convened a meeting of the deans of the college development councils of the universities in the northern region at Himachal Pradesh University on May 22. This was stated in a press note issued by the Dean, College Development Council, Panjab University, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh.

As many as 21 deans participated in the meeting. The UGC was represented by eight delegates and the Himachal Pradesh government sent three representatives. The host university was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean, College Development Council.

Problems being faced by the councils were discussed and possible solutions were arrived at. The spokesman of the UGC said the grant for acquisition of a computer for the councils had been sanctioned and efforts were on to extend grant for fax facilities.

Urged: The undue delay in release of notification of revision of pay-scales of government-aided college teachers in the city was "deplorable", a press note issued by Dr Satya P. Gautam, President of PUTA, said here today.

The private college teachers were the only persons still uncertain about whether their pay scales had been revised. This was causing frustration and anguish among the teachers. He urged the UT Administration not to delay the implementation of the revision of pay scales.

Selected: Dr (Mrs) Aruna Goel, professor of Sanskrit, Department of Correspondence Studies, has been selected by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, to visit Hungary for 21 days under the Indo-Hungarian Cultural Exchange Programme.

During her stay in Hungary, Dr Goel will deliver a series of lectures on Indian philosophy and culture at the major universities, research institutes and the Indological study centre. She has been requested to speak on the status of women in India and on the system of higher education, especially through the distance mode.

Resented: The Panjab University Staff (non-teaching) Association expressed resentment over the delaying tactics being adopted by the university authorities with regard to their long-pending demands.

The demands of the staff include implementation of the pension scheme, fixed medical allowance at a par with Punjab Government employees, 24-hour availability of a doctor at the university health centre.

The association would chalk out its future line of action if the demands were not settled amicably soon.

Installed: A telephone (number 541053) was installed in the CET Cell of the Administrative Block of the PU today.

Enquires related to the various entrance tests could be made at this telephone number, according to a press note issued by the Joint Controller of Examination, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari.

Radhika overshadows Pankaj Udhas
By Varinder Singh

Tribune News ServiceSAS NAGAR, May 24 — Radhika Chopra, a Delhi-based upcoming singer with her soulful performance overshadowed noted ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas at 'Sham-e-Ghazal' organised by the Pinnacle Group in Phase VI here tonight.

Her very first number, "Baakhuda ab to mujhe koyi tamanna hi nahin", a ghazal penned down by Shamim Jaipuri, was enough to prove that she was well versed in classical music.

Judging the mood of the audience she shifted her focus from ghazal to foot-tapping Punjabi songs by offering, "Gali gali which vanjara phirda, launda hoka" and later, "Chunni lai de sitarian wali, ke giddhe wich main nachhna".

On the other hand, the 'king of ghazals', it seemed, had nothing new for his fans, as what he presented was nothing but his old numbers such as 'Chitthi aayee hai...' and apparently, his effort to cash in on the old hits, did not went well with 'ghazal lovers', who had to return disappointed yesterday as the event was postponed for today due to rain.

Pankaj, who was scheduled to start his performance at 7 pm as per the revised schedule, arrived at 8.48 pm, disappointing 'ghazal lovers', and perhaps also Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister and the Chief Guest who left the venue just after listening his maiden ghazal.

Starting his performance with Noor Narvi's ghazal, "log tumko gulab kahte hain, aur jaane shabab kahte hain" and the often-repeated "aap jinke karib hote hain" Udhas offered nothing but his usual monotonous style of presenting ghazals in a songlike fashion. The only compensating factor was his famed "velvet touch" effect, which of course, was there to be felt in each of his presentations.

Gradually, he went on to render, "niklo na benaqab, jamana kharab hai" and "Jaayen to jaayen kahan bin aapke", both of which went well with the gathering. The performance of Rakesh, the flute player, was sometimes good enough to give an impression that it was the mellow notes of his flute, which touched the hearts of the audience.

Another number, which as expected drew rich applause was his popular ghazal, "Hui mahngee badi sharaab, thodi thodi piya karo".

Telecom Dept told to shift phone
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 24 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum II has directed the General Manager, Telecom, to pay a sum of Rs 1,500 to a complainant for excessive billing and to restore his telephone connection at the desired address.

The complainant, Mr O.S. Mahajan had stated that he had requested the Telecom Department in November, 1992, to shift his telephone to the factory premises. The department, however, failed to do so.

In March 1993, Mr Mahajan again applied to the department to shift the telephone connection to the new house, but there was no response. He further alleged that he received a bill of Rs 9,000 which was excessive, keeping in view that his previous bills.

He further added that he had made a representation regarding excessive billing to the respondent but his connection was discontinued for non-payment of the bill.

In its reply, the department stated that the connection could not be shifted because by the time it was planned, orders for closure of the connection had arrived.

While setting aside the bill, the forum bench, comprising its president, Mr R.P Bajaj and members, Mr H.C Walia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta, directed the complainant to pay the rental fee of Rs 1500.

Vegetable prices fall
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 24—A number of commonly used vegetables have become cheaper during the past two days.

The biggest fall in price was registered by lady's finger, cauliflower and cabbage. During a survey of the market it was found that if a kg of lady's finger was available at Rs 20 just two days back, it was today priced at Rs 12 in different city markets. The wholesale price of the commodity has come down from Rs 80 to Rs 50 per five kg. According to traders, the sudden fall was an outcome of enhanced arrivals, which was accelerated during the past two days owing to rainfall in parts of Punjab and Haryana. Traders predicted that the price of the would go down further following more arrivals in the market from these two states, where the crop was good this year.

Likewise, the prices of cabbage and cauliflower crashed during this period. A kg of cabbage, priced at Rs 10 two days back, could be purchased today by paying Rs 6. As far as the wholesale price of the commodity was concerned, it has come down from Rs 40 to Rs 25 per five kg. Similarly, the price of cauliflower has come down from Rs 16 a kg to Rs 12 a kg in the retail market and from Rs 60 to Rs 50 per five kg in the wholesale market. The fall was attributed to more supplies of both vegetables from Himachal Pradesh, which is the main source of vegetables in the region these days.

The fall in price was also noticeable in the case of gourd. If a kg of the vegetable was available for Rs 10 just two days back, it was available today between Rs 6 and Rs 8 a kg . The wholesale price of the commodity has dipped from Rs 40 to Rs 20 to Rs 25 per five kg. What has led to the crashing of the price was a virtual flooding of the market with the vegetable owing to a good crop in Punjab this year.

The same was the case with brinjal, which could be seen in abundance in different city markets. A kg of the vegetable, priced at Rs 14to Rs 15 two days back, was available today for Rs 10 . The wholesale price of the vegetable has come down from Rs 55 to Rs 40 per five kg. Cucumber has also become cheaper during this period. The price of a kg of the vegetable has come down from Rs 6 to Rs 4 during this period. The wholesale price has come down from Rs 20 to Rs 15 per five kg during this period. Similarly, the price of bittergourd has come down from Rs 20 to Rs 12 a kg during this period.

On the other hand, the prices of certain other vegetables have remained stable during this period. A kg of tomato, potato and onion was still available for Rs 7, Rs 5 and Rs 8, respectively. Similarly, a kg of capsicum, beans and lemon could still be purchased for Rs 24, Rs 20 and Rs 32, respectively.

Junior tennis main draws settled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 24 — Nikhil Goswami, Bharat Srnivasan, Abhinav Grover, Ritesh Sabharewal, Yanik Nelord, Nilabh Avasthi, Sahil Vasudeva and G.P. Singh qualified for the main draw in the boys' under-14 section of the Adidas Junior Tennis Circuit, 1999, being played at the Sector 10 Tennis Stadium here.

In the boys' under-16 section, Nakul Yadav, Arjun Uppal, Gurmeet Singh, Rajat Madan, Vishal Sachdeva, Vivek Sachdeva, Monish Choffla and Sahil Manchanda have qualified for the main draw.

Gurpreet Virdi, Bahar Paul, Ankriti Prasad, Summer Bhullar, Harleen Uppal, Gungeet Bains, Maninder Kaur and Shamma Parveenj have qualifed for the girls' under-16 main draw.

The heavy rain in the morning delayed the start of play today. The matches were scheduled to be played from 6.30 am onwards, but it was only at 1 pm that the courts could be used.

Boys under-14 (final qualifying round): Nikhil Goswami beat Vishnu Singh 7-0. Bharat Srinivasan beat Saurabh Kumar 8-5. Abhinav Grovar beat Rohan Gaddh 8-1. Ritesh Sabharwal beat Shranish Joshi 8-1. Yanik Nelord beat Raghav Nanda 8-4. Nilabh Avasthi beat Jitin Bishnoi 8-6. Sahil Vasudeva beat Baku Khera 8-2. G.P. Singh beat Simranjeet Cheema 8-2.

Boys under-16 (final qualifying round): Nakul Yadav beat Vishnu Singh 8-0. Arjun Uppal beat Yuvraj 8-7(5). Gurneet Singh beat Anish Narang 8-6. Rajat Madan beat Sanam Krishan 8-4. Vishal Sachdeva beat Arjun Talwar 8-4. Vivek Sachdeva beat Devanand 8-1. Monish Choffla beat Bharat Sachdeva 8-3. Sahil Manchanda beat Ritesh Sabharwal 8-4.

Girls under-16 (final qualifying round): Gurpreet Virdi beat Bhavani Trimurti 8-4. Bahar Paul beat Sanjana Kapoor 8-2. Anukriti Prasad beat Pooja Kamboj 8-7(8-6). Summer Bhuller beat Amarpreet Kaur 8-4. Harleen Uppal beat Neha Rana 8-6. Gungeet Bains beat Harpreet Neelu 8-5. Maninder Kaur beat Dhanashree C. Giri 8-5.